Manly happy to keep the status quo going, Api Koroisau injured as Sea Eagles prevail over Wests Tigers
Tom Trbojevic says it is nice to have that familiar feeling again after playing a central role in Manly’s win over the West Tigers, easing the pressure on coach Anthony Seibold.
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Manly superstar Tom Trbojevic is happy to stay at centre for the reminder of the season if it means the Sea Eagles continue to win games. Winning, in the end, is all the matters.
“Well, it’s enjoyable winning,” Trbojevic said.
“That’s what this game’s about. I’m happy to play anywhere. I enjoy fullback. I can enjoy playing centre.
“I haven’t played front row, but I’d probably enjoy it for a little bit. I’m not thinking about what we’re doing in four weeks.
“I’m thinking about what we’re doing right now. They’re going to work that side of it out.
“If I’m at centre for the rest of the year, then I’m at centre for the rest of the year. So it is what it is.”
Trbojevic’s return to the centres on Friday night against the Wests Tigers was a mixed bag. He got his ribs rattled in the first half by a vicious Jeral Skelton hit but picked himself up, dusted himself off, and played a central role as the Sea Eagles snapped a two-game losing streak.
He was particularly devastating in the second half as he took on more of a roaming role in attack, finishing the game with seven tackle busts and a try assist.
Afterwards, coach Anthony Seibold said the status quo would remain for at least another week – Trbojevic will stay at centre and Lehi Hopoate will retain the No. 1 jersey.
Asked about being unshackled in the second half against the Tigers, Trbojevic said: “It’s just about playing footy. It’s not really a blueprint, I just kind of go out there and feel it.”
“I feel like I’ve been able to do it pretty well. It’s just giving teams a different look.
“It wasn’t a plan of when (I) was going to (roam). You just kind of feel it. It was nice. Obviously a few things defensively we need to work on.
“But I think we did a good job in attack to score 28 points. Look, winning solves everything, is what they say.
“It’s been tough because obviously, we put a couple of bad performances in, and then we went into a bye.
“So, you didn’t really get the chance to prove yourself out in the footy field, and that’s what we needed to do.”
Trboejvic wasn’t the only Manly player to silence the critics. Captain Daly Cherry-Evans also produced a resurgent performance, having addressed his teammates earlier in the week over his future.
Amid suggestions the guessing game over Cherry-Evans’ future had become a distraction, Trbojevic insisted it wasn’t the case.
“I’ve been comfortable with it since day dot,” Trbojevic said.
“He’s come and he’s openly said what he wants to do and he’s entitled to do that. He doesn’t need to tell me that he’s still doing this and this is why he’s doing that.
“Because we’re here to play footy and that’s the focus. Obviously, I was shocked when I heard the news.
“I thought Cherry was going to be at this club his whole career. So, that was a shock. But we’re out here doing our job and what he’s doing next year is not going to affect me doing my job and he’s entitled to that.
“He’s played footy for long enough to make decisions on his own terms and it is what it is.”
Tigers woes continue as Manly ease pressure on Seibold
– Dave Lyall
Manly coach Anthony Seibold arrived at 4 Pines Park on Friday night with the rugby league world questioning his future in the NRL, but it was rival Benji Marshall who left Brookvale wondering if the same pressure was building on him.
The Wests Tigers lost for the sixth straight time and could be sitting just one spot from the bottom of the ladder by the end of the weekend after they were trounced by Manly 28-10.
To make matters worse for the Tigers, they lost skipper Api Koroisau late in the game to a category one head injury, while Tallyn Da Silva and Heath Mason were placed on report.
Missing game day scratching Jarome Luai and gun fullback Jahream Bula, the Tigers started a revamped spine that included Mason in the No. 1 jersey, Latu Fainu at five-eighth, Koroisau at half and the soon to depart Silva at hooker. There will need to be more changes next week.
Marshall called the Tigers’ showing ‘a step backwards’.
“It’s bit disappointing,” Marshall said.
“Obviously, we’re left in a bit of a scramble with Jerome pulling out this morning and I just thought we didn’t have enough experience in those positions today to get done.
“We got dominated in field position. I thought the last few weeks have been really good. Today was, I reckon, a step backwards.
Marshall believed the late withdrawal of star playmaker Luai, who was in hospital with an infection, and some of the injuries during the game, had a knock on effect for the team’s overall performance.
“I mean, we moved our starting hooker to seven and we moved our bench hooker to start and then we moved our fullback to five eight, and then we moved our bench 14 to fullback and then we had to move Adam (Doueihi) to halfback and move Birdy (Jack Bird) to centre. So, a lot of people playing out of position today.”
Manly were far from brilliant but it was a tradesman like victory for a club – and coach – under pressure following horrible losses to Parramatta, Newcastle and the Gold Coast, in the last five weeks.
The Sea Eagles started the game with a new look backline after the much-publicised switch of Tom Trbojevic from fullback into the centres, handing the No. 1 jersey to Lehi Hopoate and pushing Reuben Garrick to the wing. It took some time for those changes to take effect.
Less than 24 hours after Penrith and Canterbury combined for a finals-like game of the season, Manly and the Wests Tigers came together to submit their nomination for worst half of the year in the opening 40 minutes.
It took 39 of those 40 minutes before either side troubled the scorer, Jason Saab finally touching down out wide after a Luke Brooks pass helped Tom Trbojevic to the outside of Adam Doueihi and the new Manly centre put Saab over.
It was the first time Manly went to Trbojevic in any sort of attacking shape.
Early in the half Trbojevic was hit in a bone-rattler by Jeral Skelton, losing the ball with Manly in good field position. Such was the ferocity of the tackle, Skelton ended up undergoing a HIA.
Trbojevic played a major hand in the game’s second try just two minutes after the break when he swung to the opposite side of the field, injecting himself into the backline and creating an overlap with Hopoate who put Garrick over.
Four minutes later Tolu Koula went over after Brooks elected to run the ball down the short side on the last tackle.
Trbojevic made a poor defensive read to allow Alex Seyfarth to stroll over to get the Tigers on the board but Manly hit back via Corey Waddell in an almost carbon copy.
Ben Trbojevic and Da Silva both scored late in the game.
Seibold said Manly’s first half defence laid the platform for the win.
“Well, first, I actually thought we put a lot, a fair bit of work into the Tigers and that’s what we spoke about half time, just the amount of work they had to do, the amount of time they had to come off their own line,” Seibold said.
“I think there maybe might have been eight or nine tackle ones for them inside their own 20. So that puts a lot of pressure, fatigue wise, on the team.
“So it’s really good, and (we) probably got some rewards in the second half.”
ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM
Most of the attention at Manly over the last few months has centred around Daly Cherry-Evans’ decision to leave the club, Tom Trbojevic’s injuries and form, and more recently the future of coach Anthony Seibold.
Jake Trbojevic has largely escaped much commentary and attention but his ongoing place in the Manly side, or at least the starting team, is the elephant in the room.
Trbojevic has been one of Manly’s greatest ever servants, making 236 appearances in the maroon and white across 13 seasons, captaining his state and representing the Kangaroos. It’s a delectable resume and one topped off by the fact he is universally considered one of the game’s toughest – and best – blokes.
But is that enough anymore? Against the Tigers ‘Jurbo’ was all heart in defence, making 41 tackles, but he was ineffectual in attack, the Fox Sports Lab crediting him with just three runs.
Manly have Fijian international Caleb Navale waiting in the wings, along with the option of starting Jazz Tevaga in the 13 jersey.
DOES HE STAY OR GO
Da Silva arrived at Brookvale for potentially his last game with the Tigers, but with Koroisau set for at least a week on the sidelines following his concussion, the 20-year-old hooker may be sticking around.
Da Silva made his NRL debut at just 18 and is considered a future star of the game, but the Tigers have indicated they will extend Koroisau’s time at Concord and the youngster is not willing to play second fiddle, opting to leave at the end of the season.
Wests Tigers subsequently gave Da Silva permission to talk to rival clubs about a move before Monday’s transfer deadline and the promising rake has had several offers with Parramatta, Newcastle and his opposition tonight, Manly, all a possibility.
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He didn’t take the field tonight but Jarome Luai’s recovery from infection will be one of Blues’ coach Laurie Daley’s biggest concerns ahead of the decider on July 9. Marshall however revealed post match that he thought Luai would be healthy again in a few days.
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